Member Profile

Participant Info

Brandon Aghamalian is widely recognized as an expert on local government, transportation, economic development, property tax and cultural arts issues. As vice president of business development and co-founder of the Focused Advocacy governmental affairs division, his primary concentration is representing local governments before the Texas Legislature.

Prior to joining Focused Advocacy, Aghamalian founded and managed a multi-million dollar local government advocacy practice group, representing dozens of municipalities before the state. Additionally, he worked on behalf of the Texas film and television industries to create and fund a $60 million incentive program to keep and expand production activities in Texas. His accomplishments in the areas of tax policy and economic development extend back to his experience inside the Capitol where he played instrumental roles in the crafting and passage of the Texas Economic Development Act, along with substantial redesigns of Texas’ workers compensation insurance system and Texas Workforce Commission job training programs.

Aghamalian’s successful management of numerous client projects, many of which led to millions of dollars in tax incentives, the expansion of facilities and the creation of new jobs, has led him to become a trusted and sought after advisor to business leaders across the state.

Aghamalian earned his law and master’s degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where he also was a NCAA scholarship track athlete and student body vice president.

Lobby 101

Registration

All of us who communicate to influence are lobbying. The fundamental issue is that some forms of communication require you to register under the Texas Lobby Law, Chapter 305 of the Government Code Act, while others do not. The distinction between which activities require registration and which do not is often difficult to ascertain, yet the penalties for violation can be significant.

Reporting

Once you register as a lobbyist, you will be responsible for reporting expenditures on a lobby activity report (Form LA). Lobby activity reports for monthly filers are due by the tenth day of each month and cover activities occurring during the preceding calendar month. Annual filers submit one report for the entire calendar year by January 10 of the following year.

Expenditures

A person who expends more than $500 in a calendar quarter for certain purposes must register as a lobbyist. Once registered, all lobby expenditures must be reported and fall into several categories. In some cases, you must identify the individual who benefits from a lobby expenditure and provide other details. There are a number of prohibitions and exceptions to be aware of as well.

Prohibitions

The lobby law contains a number of restrictions on expenditures by lobbyists, as well as on acceptance of lobby expenditures by state officers, state employees, immediate family and guests of state officers and employees, candidates for state offices, and officers-elect. With limited exceptions, violation of any of the provisions of the Lobby Law carry a criminal penalty.